Fence.



Patented June l9, I900. C. STIERLIN.

FENCE.

(Application filed Mar. 15, 1900.)

(No Model.)

fa 1 "MINI "I IIIF 00 I II I II LI I I UNITED STATES Parr prion.

CARL STIERLlhLOF \VASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

FENCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 652,050, dated June 19, 1900.

Application filed March 15,1900. Serial No. 8,778. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CARL STIERLIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fences; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and eXact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has reference to improvements in fences, but more particularly that class of fences which are adapted for gardens and similar inclosures; and it consists of certain novel features of construction, which will hereinafter be described in the specification, elucidated in the drawings, and clearly point- .ed out in the claims.

One object of the present invention is to provide a fence from twelve to twenty-four inches high that can be utilized for various purposes-such as gardens, flower-beds, and the walks or paths requiring an inclosurepresenting a beautiful and symmetrical appearance and at the same time maintaining its alinement, each pale with the others.

A further object of the invention is to so construct and arrange the separate parts or pales constituting the fence that they cannot be forced apart through any means in the course of natures manifestationsfor instance, such as frost in the springtime elevating and disturbing the conformation of the ground or tufts of grass and weeds wedging between the pales constituting the fence.

A further object of the invention is to arrange the independent pales contiguous, or nearly so, and secure them by suitable looking devices and at that portion of the pales that is under the ground or soil. These looking devices can be of various constructions to meet the required end in-view.

A further object of the invention is to provide inverted brackets or supports for each pale and which are preferably integral therewith, thus affording additional strength and also means for more fully supporting the fence as a whole.

My invention further consists in providing independent beveled blocks having a foot thereon for contacting the ground and parallel with the bottom of each pale and adapted to bind the pales together by means of the half-dovetailed openings in said pales.

My invention further consists in providing a dovetailed projection on the outside of the pales for the reception of independent dovetailed blocks. This method of arranging the locking devices does not decrease the strength of the pales, as the dovetail is not cut therein, but made integral with the pales.

The pales in common use for forming a fence become distorted and out of alinement one with the other as the frost forces the earth upward unevenly, on account of the density of the soil varying, thus presenting an uncouth and unsightly appearance. With my improved pales the locking devices prevent all such irregularities, as the soil may be of extreme variation in humidity and density, but the fence will present the same even appearance irrespective of the frost acting on it or from any other cause caused by the elements.

To more fully elucidate my invention, I will proceed to describe the drawings, in which corresponding parts in all the figures have the same letters of reference thereon.

Figure 1 represents my improved device in front elevation with alternating male and female dovetails thereon, the upper portion being decorated with any suitable design. Fig. 2 represents an edge elevation of a single pale. ,Fig. 3 represents a similar view to that shown in Fig. 2 with the addition of inverted supporting brackets. Fig. 4 represents in side elevation my improved device, which is provided with independent locking devices.

. Fig. 5 represents in edge elevation the device sents a corner-post with an annular dovetail formed therein for the reception of the pales. Myinvention consists of a number of pales so constructed and arranged that they can be .locked together. The locking devices indicated in Fig. 1 are provided with dovetails 1 and 2, respectively, one male and one female, on each pale. This portion of the pales is put into the ground as far as the line 00. The

upper portion 3, which projects above the ground, can be of any artistic design to suit the fancy of the buyer. I prefer to make the pales a fiat arc, as indicated in Fig. 2, which,

gives them a more neat and unique appearance.

The bases of the pales A are preferably provided with inverted brackets 4, which will give them more stability from any undue roughness that might contact them. In Fig. 4 the bases A of the pales are provided'with half-dovetails 5 on opposite edges thereof and are locked together by independent dovetailed or beveled blocks 6, which are provided with projecting tongues 7 and a foot-piece 8, all being integral therewith for contacting the ground or earth and in alinement or parallel with the base of the pales. By this means greater stability can be secured to the pales, and, furthermore, the tongues 7 can be of any desired length consistent with convenience, so as to extend beyond any obstructions, such as a rock, which may be adjacent to a pale, the foot 8 finding a seat on the ground parallel with the aforesaid pale,

1 and consequently beyond any obstruction;

The bottom of the pales can be of any-de sired length or depth, according to the nature of the soil where they are planted.

The locking device indicated in Fig. 8 represents a somewhat-novel construction. The pales A are provided with half dovetails 9 on opposite edges of each pale and on the outside thereof. By this means a much stronger pale is provided and which is more especially adapted Where high pales are required than those designed for ordinary use. These external dovetails are locked together by slidin g blocks 10, having corresponding dovetails or grooves therein to impinge upon the external dovetails on said pales and lock the same together.

In Fig. 11 a corner-post 12 is shown. The base 14 is provided with an annular groove 15 for securing the male dovetails 1, as shown in Fig. 1. When a female dovetail 2 comes opposite the annular groove 15 in the post 12, a double male dovetail 16 is employed,as shown, in the annular groove of Fig. 11. By'this means a continuous fence can be made without any cost other than the pales for making the same. An opening is cut in one side of said annular dovetail for inserting the male dovetails,when the post is turned around,locking said dovetails in the annular dovetailed groove and at any required angle for a fence.

Having described my invention, that which I desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. A fence consisting of pales with dove= tailed openings therein, in combination with "dovetailed blocks for locking said pales, said blocks projecting at right angles to said pales for the purpose as specified.

2. A fence consisting of pales with dovetailed openings therein, having in combination therewith, dovetailed blocks for locking said pales, said blocks having footpieces thereon for the purpose as specified.

3. A fence consisting of pales with dovetailed openings therein, in combination with posts, said posts being provided with annular dovetailed or undercut grooves for the reception of the dovetails of said pales as specified.

4. A fence consisting of pales with dovetailed openings therein, in combination with a post having an annular dovetailed groove, of an independent double dovetailed block adj ustably secured in said post as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CARL STIERLIN.

Witnesses:

W. Runs EDELEN, JEssE W. RAWLINGS. 

